Crank attachment.



C. A. CLOYED.

CRANK ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-'3. 1917.

Pafented June 18, 1918.

UNITED STATES P ENT OFFICE.

CURTIS A. L D. o ame VALE, KA A -f CRANK ArreonrinNr.

Specification of hetters Patent. une 18, 1918,

Application filed December 3, 1917. Serial No. 205,160.

usein connection with motor driven vehicles,

and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved attachment which serves effectively to prevent the fly-jback of a starting crank of an internal combustion engine upon backfire of said engine ,or from any other cause,

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts :ofmy improved crank attachment whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as Will be hereinafter more V I -.openings-1l through which the shaft 12 ,of

fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter :be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section illustrating a crank attachment constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in top plan of my improvement as herein embodied; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in cross section, through the frame included in my attachment as herein disclosed.

As disclosed'in the accompanying drawings, F denotes the forward transverse beam of a motor driven vehicle frame or chassis herein disclosed as a type employed on the well-known Ford car. B denotes a bearing for the starting crank C which is held in applied position upon the beam F through the medium of the upwardly directed clamping members M substantially U-shaped in form and which are disposed through the portion of the bearing B.

My improved attaoihrnent comprises two vertically disposed plates 2 having their upper marginal portions connected by the interposed web 3 affording ,a frame substantially in the form of .an i nverted U. Overlying the upper or outer face of the web 3 is a rigid strap 4 preferably of metal which has its opposite end portions 5 extended belaterally directed ears 1 carried by the :base

vondthe ends of the web 3 and disposed downwardl on a predetermined inclination and provided with the perforate terminals 7 through which the free end'portions of the forward arms of the clamping members M are adaptedito be directed. The lower mar- T. i.

ginal portions of the plates 2 adjacent the opposite sides or vertical margins thereof are connected by the rivets 8 or the like with which are pivotally engaged the. rigid members or straps 9 which are adapted to extend in opposite direction and provided with the perforate terminals 10 through which the extremities of the arms of the clamping veniently put in applied position.

The plates 2 are provided with .alined the starting crank is loosely directed. "The shaft 12 is provided with a longitudinally -.dis.posed groove or channel 14 extending substantially the entire length thereof and open at the inner end or free end of said shaft. The shaft 12 is also loosely directed through the axial center of a ratchet wheel 15 positioned between the plates 2. The ratchet wheel 15 is provided with a key 16 extending within the groove or channel 14 whereby it will be perceived that the ratchet wheel 15 will turn in unison with the shaft 12 but permits longitudinal movement of the shaft 12 independently of the ratchet wheel 15.

The upper end portions of the plates 2 are connected by the rivets 17 in preferably transverse alinement and positioned at op ratchet wheel in a manner to prevent rota tion of theshaft 12 in one direction or in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the shaft 12 in starting the motor. It will therefore be self-evident that a flyback of the crank C will be effectively prevented in the event of a back fire of the motor or from any other cause so that the possibility of injury to a person starting or cranking the motor is eliminated.

The ratchet wheel 15 can readily be applied between the plates 2 by swinging one of the pawls 19 and an adjacent member 9 in opposite directions.

' From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a crank attachment constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that. my invention is susceptible of some changes and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with the shaft of a starting crank of an internal combustion engine and a beam arranged transversely of saidshaft, a safety attachment comprising a frame substantially in the form of an inverted U, side members of the frame being provided with openings through which the shaft is loosely directed, a ratchet wheel arranged within the frame and through which the shaft is disposed, said shaft being provided with a channel disposed longitudinally thereof and the ratchet being provided with a key extendingwithin the channel of the shaft, arms secured to the upper portion of the frame and extending beyond opposite sides thereof, members interposed between and supported by the lower end portion of the side members of the frame, oppositely directed arms pivotally engaged with said members, anchoring members carried by the arms and positioned at opposite sides of the shaft, the pair of arms extending from each side of the frame being engaged with one of the anchoring members.

2. In combination with the shaft of a starting crank of an internal combustion engine provided with a channel disposed longitudinally thereof, a safety attachment comprising two plates in fixed relative spaced relation and provided with alined openings through which the shaft of the crank is loosely directed, a ratchet wheel positioned between the plates and through which the shaft of the crank is also loosely directed, said ratchet wheel being provided with a key extending within the channel of the shaft of the crank, supporting members carried by the opposite end portions of the plates and extending beyond opposite sides thereof, and a pawl supported by the plates and coacting with the ratchet wheel, certain of said supporting members being capable of pivotal movement relative to the plates.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CURTIS A. CLOYED.

Witnesses:

JAs. F. SEYBOLD, H. R. ATTWATER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G. 

